IKEA announces exciting Indigenous Australian collaboration

By Homes| 4 months ago

In an exciting and groundbreaking move, IKEA has announced it is teaming up with Indigenous artists from Pwerle Gallery for the retail giant’s first Australian collaboration.

Revealing the project – which has been a year and a half in the making – at the Democratic Design Days Festival last month, soon to be ex-head of design Marcus Engman said the Swedish furniture brand was on a mission to “democratise art” and was “especially curious about how art is influenced through different parts of the world.”

Working with Pwerle Gallery – which was established in 2015 by the daughter of internationally respected art dealer Fred Torres – IKEA has commissioned art by some of the gallery’s 13 artists to be used across a range of yet to be announced homewares.

(Ikea)

Image courtesy of IKEA

Especially curious about stories that have been passed through generations over thousands of years, Engman said IKEA is keen to explore how they can help teach broader Australia and other parts of the world about the unique storytelling and art practices of Aboriginal artists, as well as provide consumers with beautiful products with a special meaning.

“We know how important it is for your wellbeing to surround yourself with beautiful objects,” Engman said.

“In addition to this, we also know that the biggest threshold for acquiring art for many people around the world is price.

“That is why we want to make art accessible for more people around the world.”

(Ikea)

Image courtesy of IKEA

Jade Torres, who runs Pwerle Gallery, said, “This has been one very long year and a half in the making, and I am so grateful for not only the opportunity but also for the awareness and impact this will have on Aboriginal culture as a whole.

“I can not wait to see what the future holds and to see this project come to life.”